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ORRHES is a federal advisory committee created in 1999 whose members live in the communities surrounding the Oak Ridge Reservation. The representative group of citizens provides advice and recommendations to ATSDR and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on the two agencies' public health activities and research regarding the Oak Ridge Reservation site. ORRHES members work with private citizens, advocacy groups, and state and federal agencies in the region and provide community members with an opportunity to communicate directly with federal public health agencies. The group holds regular meetings to update the community on ongoing activities.

Anyone with questions about these meetings, ORRHES or ATSDR activities at the Oak Ridge Reservation may contact the ORRHES Designated Federal Official, Marilyn Palmer, toll-free at 1-888-422-8737 or by calling 404-498-1751. Community Involvement Specialist Loretta Bush may be reached at 404-498-1742. Environmental Health Scientist Bill Taylor also may be contacted in the Oak Ridge Field Office at 865-220-0295. Callers should refer to the Oak Ridge site in Oak Ridge, Tenn.

ATSDR, a federal public health agency of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, evaluates the human health effects of exposure to hazardous substances.

Established by Congress in 1980 under the Superfund law, ATSDR conducts public health assessments at each of the sites on the EPA National Priorities List, as well as other sites when petitioned. Headquartered in Atlanta, ATSDR is staffed by more than 400 health professionals including epidemiologists, physicians, toxicologists, engineers and public health educators.

ATSDR Releases Report about Exposure to PCBs at Oak Ridge Reservation, TNRelease Date: Monday, December 04, 2006
Exposure to polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs -- a chemical used as a coolant and lubricant in electrical equipment) from the Oak Ridge Reservation does not pose a public health hazard, says the public health assessment released by the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR). However, as a public health precaution, the agency suggests residents limit eating certain types of local fish.

ATSDR Assessment Finds No Unusual Patterns of CancersRelease Date: Wednesday, October 25, 2006
Cancer incidence for the eight-county area surrounding the U.S. Department of Energy Oak Ridge Reservation, TN is consistent with most cancer levels across the state, concludes a report released by the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR).

ATSDR Finds No Current, Future Exposure to Radioactive Iodine at Oak Ridge Reservation, TNRelease Date: Thursday, September 07, 2006
Any iodine-131 (I-131) released from the X-10 site on the Oak Ridge Reservation, TN, during the 1940s through 2004 has decayed completely or is currently not present in the environment at levels of health concern, says the public health assessment released by the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR).

ATSDR Releases Assessment of Cancer Incidence for Oak Ridge, TNRelease Date: Wednesday, March 01, 2006
Cancer incidence for the eight-county area surrounding the U.S. Department of Energy Oak Ridge Reservation, TN are consistent with most cancer levels across the state, says a report released by the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR).

ATSDR To Host Meetings about Assessment of Cancer Incidence for Oak Ridge, TNRelease Date: Friday, February 24, 2006
The Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) will hold three public availability sessions March 1- 2 to discuss the findings of its assessment of cancer incidence for the eight-county area surrounding the U.S. Department of Energy Oak Ridge Reservation, TN.

Report Finds TSCA Incinerator Poses No Public Health HazardRelease Date: Friday, February 03, 2006
Continued operation of the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) Incinerator at the U.S. Department of Energy Oak Ridge Reservation in Roane County, Tenn., does not present a public health hazard to nearby residents, says a public health assessment released by the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR).

Exposure to Radionuclides From White Oak Creek Does Not Pose Public Health HazardRelease Date: Friday, May 06, 2005
Past, current and future exposures to radionuclides released from White Oak Creek to the Clinch River/Watts Bar Reservoir are not a public health hazard, says the public health assessment released by the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR). The assessment will be available for public comment and review through June 23.

Oak Ridge, Tenn. Community Education SessionsRelease Date: Friday, April 08, 2005
The Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) invites Oak Ridge residents to attend education sessions about community health concerns presented by Dr. Robert Brent on April 18 and 19.

Openings for New Members on the ORRHES in TennesseeRelease Date: Tuesday, January 13, 2004
ATSDR announces openings for members to participate on the Oak Ridge Reservation Health Effects Subcommittee (ORRHES). The deadline to receive application materials is Feb. 3, 2004.

ORRHES will meet in Oak Ridge, TennRelease Date: Thursday, April 17, 2003
Interested community members are encouraged to attend an April 22 meeting of the Oak Ridge Reservation Health Effects Subcommittee (ORRHES) in Oak Ridge, Tenn. ATSDR will host a presentation on the public health assessment of the Y-12 uranium releases.

Oak Ridge Reservation
Health Effects Subcommittee
Meeting PostponedRelease Date: Thursday, April 18, 2002
The Oak Ridge Reservation Health Effects Subcommittee (ORRHES), today announced that the subcommittee meeting originally planned for May 6, 2002, has been postponed. The agenda items for this meeting will be presented and discussed at the next regularly scheduled meeting of the subcommittee which will take place in Oak Ridge on June 18, 2002.

ATSDR Web News
Oak Ridge Reservation
Health Effects SubcommitteeRelease Date: Wednesday, March 27, 2002
The March meeting of the Oak Ridge Reservation Health Effects Subcommittee (ORRHES). Key agenda topics for the meeting include: an overview of the Department of Energy (DOE) Former Workers Program, medical surveillance of former workers at DOE gaseous diffusion plants, and the chronic beryllium disease surveillance at DOE plants.
ATSDR is responsible for evaluating the potential health effects on off-site populations exposed to hazardous substances released from Oak Ridge Reservation. ATSDR has set up these presentations, at the request of the Oak Ridge Reservation Health Effects Subcommittee, to provide background on DOE programs to assess worker exposure issues.

Oak Ridge Reservation Health Effects Subcommitte To Hold Meeting On March 26, 2002Release Date: Tuesday, March 19, 2002
The March meeting of the Oak Ridge Reservation Health Effects Subcommittee (ORRHES). Key agenda topics for the meeting include: an overview of the Department of Energy (DOE) Former Workers Program, medical surveillance of former workers at DOE gaseous diffusion plants, and the chronic beryllium disease surveillance at DOE plants.